Perceptions of Postpartum Mothers of Their Experiences as a Patient During COVID-19 Crisis: A Phenomenological Study

Abstract

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to drastic changes in in-hospital healthcare delivery causing major policy and protocol changes regarding labor and delivery and postpartum care of maternity patients. We strove to describe and understand the perceptions of laboring and postpartum mothers’ care received through interviews in a hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a phenomenological study design, we interviewed 13 postpartum mothers. Five major themes and 10 subthemes were extracted. Major themes, both positive and negative, included genuine concern of caregivers, adverse breastfeeding experiences, feeling of being left alone, loss of expectations, and uncertainty. Primipara women had a major impact on their psychological well-being and breastfeeding experiences. Isolation and feelings of left alone adversely affect postpartum mothers’ coping, newborn care, bonding, meeting basic needs of sleep and hygiene, breastfeeding experiences, and potential postpartum recovery and psychosocial well-being including fear of future pregnancies. Therefore, “partner presence” throughout the labor and delivery and postpartum period should be a “call to action” for the nurses, especially with first-time mothers.

Childbirth experiences and post-partum depression among mothers in selected hospitals in Kiambu, Kenya

“…Having the mothers transition positively to motherhood is a desirable virtue as they worry less and can adequately care and provide for the baby. A relatively small group found the experience not very positive mirroring the findings in a study conducted in USA [17) . This could be mothers who perceived inadequate social support, may be having financial constrains or the baby presented with some health challenges.…”

“…Mothers should have adequate teaching of mothers during focussed antenatal care to include the expectation during labour and emergency preparedness. Conversely, there are reports of mothers expressing absolute satisfaction and excellent satisfaction during labour and delivery [17] . Experiences during childbirth depend on the health care provider, health care facility, the anticipated social support, myths or misinformation warranting a need to investigate further which among this or any other resulted in the mothers feeling disappointed or frightened.…”

Pengalaman Ibu Menyusui Di Masa Pandemi Covid-19

“…Sebuah penelitian menyebutkan bahwa tingkat pemberian ASI eksklusi yang secara signifikan lebih rendah di antara perempuan yang melahirkan selama masa pandemic covid-19 dibandingkan ibu yang melahirkan tahun sebelumnya (Jacob et al, 2022). Penelitian lain menyebutkan bahwa, para ibu menyusui yang terpisah dari keluarga dan lingkungan lainnya karena pembatasan kunjungan rumah dan Tindakan karantina selama masa pandemic (Kolker et al, 2021).…”

“…1. Beban Emosional Berdasarkan hasil penelitian ditemukan penelitian di Negara Turkey, Inggris, Swiss, Spanyol, Italy, Amerika Serikat yang dilakukan oleh (Aşcı et al, 2022;Costantini et al, 2021;Jacob et al, 2022;Lambelet et al, 2021;Pereira et al, 2020;Ravaldi et al, 2022) menyebutkan bahwa beban emosional yang dirasakan oleh ibu menyusui seperti perasaan sedih, rasa bersalah, cemas dan ketakutan.…”